Circular-weaving loom



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- CIRCULAR WEAVTNG LOOM Filed April 14, 1927 a Sheets-Sheet 8 Invenfaf:

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Patented July 9, 1929.

UNITED STATES 1,720,1'51 PATENT OFFICE.

: CLAUDE SERY, F AIX-EN-PROYENCE, FRANCE. v

- cmc LAB-wmvme Loom.

Application filed April 14, 1927, Serial No. 183,853, andin France April 24, 1926.

This invention refers to a circular weaving loom in -which the warp threads are arranged radially. --The shuttles slide on a circular plate provided with channels in supported by the-shuttle." This driving pulley is itself positively rotated. The circular loorn according to the inven- 1 tion is provided with means whereby the weft is made strictly perpendicular to the warp, and withanelectric stop motion. It comprises also. adevice' for forming selvedges if desired when, i on-tubular fabrics are to be manufa'ctured/ I Such a 100m .is diagrammatically represented in the. annexed drawings:

Fig. 1 is a'sideview- Fig. {2 is -a-- plan view. the upper parts of thelooln being omitted.

Figs- 3 and :4-show the drive of the shuttles; Fig. 3 being an enlarged side view with arts in vertical section on line .C-C of ig. 4, and Fig. l aho'rizontal section on Fig. 5 is a cross section on line A-A (Fig. 4) 'of the circular plate on which the shuttles slide. g a I Fig. 6 is a-dia'gram showing the move ments of the heddles.- I

Figs. 7 and '8.showthe results obtained by giving the weft thread a helical motion.

Fig. 9 shows the arrangement of the weft threads in the fabric. Fig. 10 is a plan view of a shuttle.

Fig. 11 is a cross-section of the same on line B-B.;Fig. 10. 7

Fig. 12 is aside view'of the'thread-guid-. ing arm. v r

Fig. 13 shows the electric connections for stopping the loom when a weft thread is broken. V

Fig. 14 represents the selvedge which may iii-obtained.

Fig. 15 is a partial plan view of the loom provided'with the selvedgeforming means (these means being not shown in Figs. 1 to 14 for the sake of simplicity).

Fig. 16 is a cross section on line EE .1. (Fig. 15).

manufacturing calico weave and it has only two shuttles. It comprises four beams 1, 2,

3 and 4, at right angles to eachother and connected through bevel gears 5, 6, in such a way as to require only a single beam brake 7. The warp comprises the even numbered threads (whlch are represented in dash lines, Fig. 2) and the odd numbered threads (represented in full lines). These threads. are directed by a circular reed and they pass throughthe eyelets 8, the even numb'ered'threads passing through the outer eyelets (Fig. 1) and the odd numbered threads through -the inner eyelets.

These eyeletsare carried by the heddles 9 and the heddle laths 10 which are-connected together by ropes 11 passing over pulleys 12. (These pulleys are not represented 1n Fig. 2 and Fig. 1 only shows the threads which are substantially in a plane parallel to the plane of the drawings). The heddles are thusdistributed in four sectors each comprising even and odd numbered heddles, the movement of the even numbered heddles and the .movement of the odd numbered heddles being always inverted. Each inner upper lath 10 is provided with an idler 13 coopcrating with the channel of a cylindrical cam 14,for giving the heddles the necessary movements.

provided for the warp threads near the selvedge. Thismechanism will be described separately.

The warp threads, after passing through eyelets 8, are passed through an annular [way between a central guide 15, and the edge of a central aperture-provided ina circular plate 16. In Fig. 1 this plate 16 is represented in cross section. In Fig. 2, the cam 10's 14 has not been represented.

The shuttles 18 and 19 are placed on plate 16. between the upper and the lower sheds. The circular plate 16 (Figs. 3, 4 and 5), is made up of a circular plate proper 20 11 provided with radial projections 21 with rounded edges, and, around its periphery, with higher projections 22. The warp threads 23 of the lower shed are located in the channels formed between the projections; and the peripherieal projections 22 are used as gear teeth for retaining and rotating the circular base 21 of the shuttle.

The aforesaid circular base 21- is provided with a vertical spindle 25 on which the cop 26 rotates freely. A semi-spherical idler 27 rotates also freely on the upper end of shaft 25. This idler 27 is tangent with the upper warp shed (Fig. 3).

The drive of the shuttle will be explained with reference to Figs. 3 to Each shuttle is driven by a pulley 28 having a rounded edge and acting on the semi-spherical idler 27 of the shuttle through the upper warp shed 29. An endless belt 30, whichis passed around the fixed central member 31 of the loom, drives these pulleys 28 when they are rotated around the axis of the. loom at a. speed which is such that the. rounded edge ofpull'ey 28 rolls on the warp threads without. any slipping. The warp threads are not displaced by pulley 28 but are only pressed between said pulley and the. idler 27.

The pulley 28 is supported by an arm 33 keyed on a central shaft- 32. \Vhen shaft 32 is rotated in the direction of the arrow 32, Fig. 4, the base 24 of the shuttle is pressed obliquely on the outer projections 22 and rotates as an hypocycloidal gear meshing with these projections, whil'e sliding on the radial projections 21 of circular plate 20. I n Fig. 2, the shaft 32, the two arms and the two pulleys 28 have. been omitted.)

The fabric 17 is folded by rollers 36. Fig. 1; it is fed by a. spiked roller 37 and is wound around roller 38. Cam 1% and shaft 32 are driven by a shaft 39 through bevel gears 40 and gears 41 and 42. Driving shaft 39 is provided with a pulley -13 which, by means of a belt 44. drives a pulley 45 keyed on a shaft 46. Shaft 16 drives the spiked roller 37 by means of a worm 47 acting on a gear 48. 39 is the driving shaft of the loom and it is provided with the necessarygears or pulleys not shown.

Fig.6 illustrates the working of the loom.

The shuttles 18, 19 are driven in the direction of the arrows. Cam 14 is indicated by curve 49, 50, 51, 52 which represents in radii the distance from the channel of cam 14 (see Fig. 1) to a horizontal plane.

Cam 14 rotating at a speed equal to the speed of the shuttles, shuttle 19 always slides over odd numbered warp threads and shuttle 18 over even numbered warp threads. The fabric obtained (Fig. 9) is a weave with two alternate warp threads.

As shown in Fig. 2, a part 57 is preferably void of warp threads in order to permit of a free access to the shuttles and also for insuring the correction of the obliquity of the weft threads as explained below with reference to Figs. 7 and S.

Fig. 7'represents the warp threads of the tubular fabric 17 which is fed in the direction of the arrows by the spiked roller 37 (Fig. 1). The weft thread is guided by the inner edge of plate 20 (Fig. If this inner edge were horizontal, the weft thread would be located in 58, 59, (it) and 61. Fig. 7. its winding around-the central part 15 (Fig. 1) being hel'ical as aeonsequeuce of the downward movement of fabric 17. For avoiding this obliquity, theinner edge is itself made helical in a direction opposite to the direction of 58, 59, 60 and 61. Said inner edge is indicated at- 58, 65, 6G and (57 (Fig. 7) and the weft thread comes at 58, (32, (i3 and (34. An incline 67, 58 is provided in the part 57 (which has no warp threads) for connecting points 67 and 58. Ofcourse. the obliquity of the weft threads in part 57 is not a drawback asthese threads are intended to be cut for obtaining an ordinary flat fabric.

Fig. 8 shows the inner edge of plate 20.

It is to be understood that when the diameter of the fabric is great, the obliquity of the weft threads is not to be taken,into account and there is no need of making the inner edge of plate 20 helical.

The shuttle comprises an adjustable brake for insuring a suitable tension of the weft threads, a thread guide for guiding the same, and a stop motion for stopping the loom when the thread is broken, (Figs. 10, 11 and 12). i

As aforesaid, the base of the shuttle is a circular plate 24 preferably made of fiber or the like, provided with a spindle 25 on which the cop 26 rotates freely; the semispherical idler 27 is pivoted at the upper end of spindle 25. a nut 69 being provided for retaining said idler in axial position. Cop 26 is provided with an axial housing in which is located abraking spring 70 which is adjustable by means of nut 71. Spring 70 presses the lower face72 of cop 26 against a piece of leather 73. Between the base 24 and theleather, sheet- .73 a member 74 interposed, on which the thread guide 75 is ar- -ticulated (Fig. 12). A spring 76 presses thread guide 75against the inner edge of plate 20, the weft-thread being guided by the extreme end 77 of the guide which is rounded.

'hen the shuttle is driven, the circular base 24 rotates in the direction of the. arrow (Fig. 10). The end 77 of guide 75 is .inaim tained against the war threads by the friction of member 74 on ase 24. and the weft thread 35 is tensioned by the friction of cop 26 on the leather sheet 73. The articulation of the thread guide 75 permits of laying correctl the weft thread when the inner edge of p ate is made helical.

The stop-motion is an electromagnetic de- 'vice which is operated by the opening of an electric circuit.

Member 74 is provided with a nut 7 8 having a quick or coarse pitch, which cooperates with a screw that passes through it and is provided with a circular shoe 79/ This screw is rotated by a lever 80, Fig. 10, which is fixed to it and is provided with an idler8l.

A spring 82 acts also on lever 80. The weft thread unwound from cop 26 passes around idler 81 and enters the thread guide throu h an aperture 85in order to be guided to tie extreme end 77.' .The tension of the weft thread maintains lever 80 in the position in.

full lines, Fig. 10, in which-shoe 79 is in contact with the radial'projections 21 of plate 20'. When the weft thread breaks, lever 80 is brought to the position in dashed lines by spring 82, thereby rotating the screw t at carries shoe 79, with the result that said shoe comes to its upper position in which it is no longer in contact with pro j ections 21.

Projections 21 are metallic andthey are insulated from each other; this is, easily obtained by making plate 20 of an insulating substance in which projections 21 are embedded, as shown in Fig. 11. r v

Fig. 13 diagrammatically illustrates the working. The shoes 79 are intended for short-circuiting two consecutive projections 21 in any position o-f'fizhe shuttles. Every odd-numbered projection is connected with the opposite one (in Fig. 13,'only three such connections have been represented) the even numbered projections are connected with two semi-circular connections, one of which is directly connected with a terminal of the source of current'87, the other one derstood from Fig. 13, is closed throughthe two shoes 79 when the loom is in regular op eration. When a weft thread is broken, the corresponding shoe 79 is lifted, as explained, and. the circuit is opened. The loom isthus 'stoplped through the release of armature 91. T

e loom, as described, weaves a tubular fabric which is opened in the space 57 void of' warp threads, giving a ,fringed plane fabric; without selvedges. .A fsclvedge is easily obtainable with some slight additions (Figs. 14 to 16).

The central shaft 32 is additionally provided with two pairs of radial arms 100 and 101, Figs. 15 and 16, having verticalprojections 102 and 103 at their outer ends .which may cooperate with two levers 106 and 107 keyed on two vertical shafts 104 and 105, rotating in the fixed axial member 31 of the Vided at their lower enh with folding reeds 108 and 109 which are normally located in av recess 110 ofmember 31 (see Fig. 16). Springs 111, located in housings in' member 31, act on shafts 104 and 105 so as to bring reeds 108 and 109 inside recess 110.

,As will be readily understood from Fig. 16, arm 100 acts on lever 106 and simultaneously arm 101 acts on lever 107 so as to rotate both reeds 108 and 109 in an outward direction. Shafts 104 and 105 are located at the edges of the space 57 void of warp threads.-

A knife 112 is located in front of reeds 106 and 107 (Fig. 15) and triangular teeth 113 (Figs. 15 and 17) are interposed between the warp threads adjacent to space 57.

Each folding reed is made of a curved member. (Fig. 17) provided with fiat teeth 114 having a U-shaped recess.

The heddles'of the warp threads located near the selvedge are driven by special heddle laths' 115-116 (Fig. 18) which are themselves driven b a special cam keyed on the same shaft as t e main cam 14 and intended for imparting to the laths 115 and 116 a motion twice as rapid-as the motion of the loom. These shafts l04= and 105 are pro-.

usual laths. This special or auxiliary cam has been represented, Fig. 18, by curve 119, 120, 121,122, 123, 124, 125 and 126.

The special weave which must be obtained is represented in Fig. 14:. The weft threads again with the adjacent warp threads.

The workin is as follows: Shuttle 19 l ter instance), Fig. 18, passes across space 57, laying a weftthread. The

special selvedge cam then moves the warp threads ad'acent" to the selvedg'e, weaving the last we thread. Arms 100 and 101 then operate levers 106 and 107. Reeds 108 and '109 press this last weft thread on cutter 112 which cuts it midway, and they completely fold the two free ends. -)Vhen levers 106 and 107 are released, the reeds -are'brought back into their recess by springs 111, but the ends of the weft thread are retained by the teeth 113 (Fig. 17). Theselvedge cam then again moves the selvedge heddles and the free ends of the weft. 'thread'are woven as shown in Fig. 14. p p

The special selvedge cam might dis-- pensed with, each free end 35 beingisi'mply woven with the next weft thread by the usual cam 14. A

It may be found useful, for lnsurmg a perfeet drive of the shuttles with delicate warp '35 have been cut, folded at 35 and woven threads, to impart to the semispherical idler 27a positive rotation in order to avoid any slip between said idler 27 and the. driving pulley 28 (Figs. 3 and 4). This is easily obtainable by pivoting the idler 27, Fig. 19, on a special spindle 1227 fixed on the top of the cop 2G. \Vith this arrangement, the friction between idler 27 and spindle 127 helps the driving pulley 28 to rotate idler 27..

The loom. as described,- is arranged for weaving'calico, but it will be readily un-- nels in said wayfor thewarp threads of the lower shed; and projections between which the. warp threads of the lower shed are .cat'cd distributed around the periphery of said circular way, and arranged substantially perpendicular to said way at the ends of the channels, said projections forming teeth for rotating the shuttles and for retaining them radially on said way.

2. A circular weaving loom comprising in combination a circular way for the shuttles; radial channels in said way; projections around the periphery of said way; and rotating shuttles sliding on said way, said shuttles having a circular base which rolls on said peripherical projections as an hypocyc'loidal gear.

3. A circular weaving loom with warp threads arranged radially around a central guide. said loom comprising in combination a circular way for t-heshuttles; radial channets in said way for the warp threads of the lower shed; projections on the periphery of said way; rotating shuttles sliding on said way. said shuttles having a circular base which rolls on said projections as an hypocycloidal gear; and driving means acting on said shuttles through the upper warp she 4. A circular weaving loom with warp threads arranged radially around a central guide, said loom comprising in combination a circular way for the shuttles; radial channels in vsaid way; projections on the periphery .of said way; driving means for the shuttles; and rotating shuttles, each comprising a circular base, a verticahspindle fixed to said base co-axially with the same, a cop rotatable on said spindle, an adjustable spring brake for said cop, and a semispherical idler loosely pivoted on said spindle,'said idler being substantially tangentto the warp threads of the upper shed and being actuated, through said shed, by

the driving meansfor the shuttles.

A circular weaving loom as claimed in claim 4, wherein the driving means for the shuttles comprise a rotating shaft co-axial with the loom, radial arms on .said shatt,

driving pulleys pivoted atthe outer ends of said arms, with their axes of rotation substan tially parallel with the spindles of the shuttles, said driving pulleys having round ed edges adapted to act on the spherical idle s of the shuttles through the upper shed, said pulleys being positively rotated at such a speed that there is no sliding between their edge and the warp threads of said upper shed.

G. A circular weaving loom with warp threads arranged radially around a central guide, said loom comprising in combination a circular way for the shuttles; radial channels in said way; projections on the periphery of said way; driving means for the shuttles; and rotating shuttles each comprising a circular base, a vertical co-axial spindle fixed to said base, a cop rotatable around said spindle, adjustable braking means for said cop,

a trunnion fixed on said cop co-axially with the same, and a substantially semi-spherical idler loosely pivoted on said trunnion, said idler being tangent to the warp'threads of the upper shed and being adapted to receivethe action of the driving means through -said shed.

7. A circular weaving loom in which the warp threads are arranged radially. around a central guide, said loom comprising in combination a circular shuttle way having a central aperture through which said guide extends with an annular space for the fabric; shuttles on said way; articulated thread guides on said shuttles, said guides being adapted to lay the weft thread on the edge of said aperture; and means whereby said thread guides are kept in permanent contact with said edge and with said central guide.

8. A circular weaving loom as claimed in claim 7, in which a sector is void of warp threads 9. A circular weaving loom comprising in combination a circular shuttle way having a. central aperture; a central guide extending therethrough; radial channels in said way for the warp threads of the lower shed; proj'ections'on the periphery of said way, substantially rpendicular to the same; and

shuttles sliding on said way, each 'shutt-le spindle, a flat member interposed between said base and the lower face of said cop, friction members between said cop and said flat member, spring means pressing said cop against said friction members, and an articu with said central guide.

lated thread guide supported by said flat member; whereby the rotation of said cop under the action of the Weft thread tends to keep's'aid thread guide in permanent contact 10. A circular weaving loom in which the warp threads are arranged radially around a central guide, except for a scctorwhich is void of warp threads, said loo-m comprising in combination a circular shuttle way having a central aperture for said central guide; shuttles sliding on said way; and articulated thread guides on said shuttles, said guides being adapted to lay the weft thread'on the edge of said aperture; said edge being made helical in the provided. v

11. A circular weaving loom comprising in combination a circular way for the shuttles; electrically insulated radial projections on said way, said projections forming channels for the warp threads of the lower shed; shuttles sliding on said way, the base of said shuttles being made of insulating material; electrical Contact means carried by said shuttles, said means being adapted to permapart in which warp threads are 'nently connect two successive radial projections with each other during the norinal working of the shuttles; means whereby said contact means are rendered inoperative when the Weft thread is broken; an electromagnetic stopping device; and electrical connections where'by t-he loom is stopped when the contact means ofone of said shuttles are put out of operation.

12. A circular weaving loom as claimed in claim 11, wherein the shuttles comprise in combination a circular base; a spindle on said base; a cop rotatable on said spindle; a flat member interposed between said cop and said base; means whereby said flat member does not rotate when said base and said cop rotate; a quick pitch screw in said flat memtil) her; a contact shoe at the lower end of said screw; an arm at the upper end of the same; spring means whereby said arm is rotated in' such a direction that said shoe is lifted; and an idler at the end of said arm, said idler being adapted to receive the weft thread and to be maintained by the tension of said thread, against the action of said spring means, in a position such that said contact shoe slides on the radial circular base of the shuttles.

13. A circular weaving loom comprising in combination a circular way for the shuttles;

insulated radial projections on said way; shuttles sliding on saidway; electrical con tact means on said shuttles, said means being adapted to normally connect two successive radial projections; means whereby said contact means are rendered inoperative when'the weft thread is broken; electrical connections connecting together each two opposite odd-numbered radial projections; an

projections of the electrical connection connecting the evennumbered projections of one-half of said way with one terminal of a source of electric current; an electrical connection connecting the even-numbered projections of the other half of said way with the other terminal; and electro-magnetic means inserted in the electric circuit, said means being adapted to stop the loom when the circuit is opened.

1l.A circular weaving loom with the warp threads arranged radially around a central guide, except for a sector which is void of warp threads, said loom comprising means whereby thelast laid weft thread is cut substantially midway in the space void of warp threads, and its ends completely folded between the two sheds, for being woven with the adjacent warp threads, for the purpose of making selvedges on the fabric.

15. A circular weaving loom as claimed in claim let wherein the warp threads'adjacent to the selvedges are given a special motion for insuring a correct weave ofthe folded ends of the weft thread.

16. A circular loom with the warp threads arranged radially around a central guide, except for a sector which is void of warp threads, said loom comprising in combination a circular way for the shuttles; two folding reeds for folding the last laid weft thread, said reeds being located in said sector void of warp threads; a cutter in the middle of said sector and near said central guide; and means for actuating said reeds; whereby the last laid weft thread is pressed by said reedsiagainst said cutter and cut, by the same, the two ends being then freely folded in the sheds ,on both sides of said sector. a a

17. A circular weaving loom as claimed in claim 16 wherein means are provided for void of warp threads, said loom. compris ing in combination a circular way for the shuttles; a cutter on said way substantially in the middle of said-"sector and'fnear said.

central guide, 'saidcutter being adaptedto' I cut the last laid weft thread when said.

thread is pressed against said cutter; folding reeds disposed in a recess in said central guide, said reeds being pivoted on axes suba central guide, except for a sector which is j stantially parallel with the axis of the loom; operating levers for operating said reeds; two arms on the central shaft of the loom; actuating rods at the end of said arms, said rods being adapted to operate said levers respectively and simultaneously and to 1'0- tate said reeds for pressing the last laid weft thread against said cutter which cut-s it, and for folding the ends in the sheds on the sides of said sector; and spring means for returning said reeds and levers to their normal position.

19. A circular weaving loom as claimed in claim 18, wherein ratchet teeth are provided for maintaining the folded ends of the last laid weft thread in the sheds before their weaving with the adjacent warp threads when the folding reeds return to their normal position; said reeds embodying a curved back and fiat U shaped teeth which are adapted to pass between said ratchet teeth and fold the weft thread thereover.

20. A circular weaving loom in which the warp threads are arranged radially, except fora sector which is void of warp threads, comprising a cam coaxial with the loom for driving the heddles, means for cutting the weft threads in the portion void of warp threads and for making selvedges by folding the ends of the last laid weft thread after it has been cut and weaving it with the adjacent warp threads by a special drive of the latter, said drive comprising a special cam keyed on the shaft of the firstnamed canrand imparting to the heddles of the selvedge warp threads a movement twice as rapid as the movement of the other warp threads.

' In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

CLAUDE SERY. 

